Robojellies and 20 million trees

Posted on December 1, 2011 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

a Box Jellyfish

Good Morning, God!

Well, I actually thought THIS WAS a photo of the robojellyfish that scientists have been working on. Not so! It is a box jellyfish.

The photo appeared in an article in Space Daily about how engineers at Virginia Tech have “developed a robot that mimics the graceful motions of jellyfish so precisely that is has been named Robojelly.”

the REAL robojellyfish

I must say, God, that was misleading journalism! They should at least have had a photo of the moon jellyfish which the robojellyfish is modeled after.

Anyway, this creature is being funded by the Office of Naval Research to conduct underwater surveillance, detect chemical spills, monitor ships and submarines and observe migration of schools of fish. I would think all of that could be done without hiding the electronics in a fake jellyfish, God.

Mind you, I enjoyed learning how the scientists are using shape memory alloy (SMA) actuators to swim. Shape memory? Still, I am finding my initial delight in such a curious project dimming, God.

I am thinking of other larger problems — like how to create jobs that help our fellow human beings help themselves — and others. With all the work that needs to be done in the World, you would think we could do a better job of figuring this out!

It was Wangari Muta Maathai, 2004 Nobel Peace Prize winner, who came up with the idea of enlisting women in Kenya to plant trees. I think they were paid a dime a tree. And in spite of their not being “professional foresters” (men actually objected to that), the women have planted 20 million trees. Reforestation benefits everyone!

Hmmm. Maybe, God, we should get more women working on how to allocate government funds?

Tagged with: allocating our resources, How to create worthwhile jobs, robojellyfish
Posted in Choosing Meaning, Creating, earning a living, systematic rebuilding required

Dogs and Coaches — and Cats?

Posted on November 30, 2011 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

Dog in a car in the Costco parking lot

Good Morning, God!

How long is it, God, that dogs have chosen to be our companions? A long, long time. Faithful friends. Surely a beneficial relationship for both dog and human.

I remember staying at a B&B in England that was sort of a working farm. The inside dog looked a lot like this dog. Beautifully groomed and cared for. The outside “working dog” was wet, dirty and clearly exhausted. Their worlds were totally separate.

Then, in Ireland we saw a shepherd “training” a young female border collie to round up and fetch the sheep. The young dog’s mother was there, too, and it was so clear to me that the mother KNEW she could do a much better job of teaching her daughter than the man was doing. He finally had to chain her up so he could continue without her help.

Apparently, aside from uppity mother border collies, dogs are leader dependent. This I have from the Dog Whisperer, Cesar Millan. According to him, the master/owner has to be the Alpha Dog. If not, the dog will “fill the void” and end up neurotic or vicious. Hmm.

I understand that “packs” have leaders, God. But, it would seem that not all humans are “pack” animals. A group of men does seem to sort itself out as to who’s in charge. Thus the importance of coaches and hierarchies. But, we women, God, seem less inclined to be “pack” creatures.

Kit has a running coach and follows his coach’s weekly assignments to the mile. I had the same man as “coach” in 1997. It never occurred to me to take his “assignments” seriously! Looking back, I can see I didn’t have a “place” in my makeup for a “coach.” . . . Perhaps I’m part Cat?

Yet another way in which we humans differ. We do need YOUR HELP, God!

Tagged with: dogs and cats together, Dogs and Leaders, hierarchies and communities, Men and hierarchies
Posted in Diversity, interspecies contact, Understanding

Angry Birds and the Game of Life

Posted on November 29, 2011 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

Angry Birds -- the most popular game app ever

Good Morning, God!

I began my day by sitting and listening in Centering Prayer. And what I heard is — It isn’t about Words. It is about Hearts.

Oddly enough, that leads me into reflections on the Angry Birds game. Millions of minutes are wasted each day playing this game. And, I’ve wasted my share.

This is a perfect game for a touch screen — iPhone or iPad. Both depend on our fingers.

What I have relearned is that our hands have their very own “intelligence.” For the first level or two, my Mind tried to direct my left index finger. Ha! That didn’t work! Finally, I remembered that our hands CAN LEARN — apparently all by themselves.

Once I turned over leadership to my hand, I actually moved up to level VI. As I play I can almost feel the neural network in my left index finger growing! Really, God, it tingles!

It was the Word Part of my Mind, God, that wanted to “direct” my finger. That is the Part that expects You to USE WORDS. The Word Part of me is sitting here, now, considering the reality that it is being by-passed during Centering Prayer.

The Mind doesn’t like that. Maybe, it’s OK during a silly game to yield to the Hands. But, this is the Game of Life, God! The Mind wants WORDS and CLARITY and ORDER and LEVELS and FEEDBACK on “HOW AM I DOING?”

Well, TOO BAD! Or, more compassionately, There There. The Game of Life just doesn’t work that way. This is hard for me, God. Your Kingdom is so different from ours. We call You King of Kings. But, You call us “children.” Indeed, You tell us we must become as little children . . . going so far as to tell us we must be “born again.”

Please, God, comfort my Word Part and help her sit, humbly and quietly, in Your Silence.

Tagged with: a moment with God, hearing with our hearts, praying without words, sitting in God's presence
Posted in attunement, becoming the change I wish to see, Changing, Hearts, listening

A New Year — A New Beginning

Posted on November 28, 2011 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

Advent Sunday Morning Sky

Good Morning, God!

Yesterday was the Beginning of Advent — the Beginning of “Beginning to Get Ready.” Ready for the company that’s coming and for “The Companion,” Jesus, who wants to join us.

It is the Church’s New Year. I learned that in the morning’s sermon. Is this like our secular New Year, God? Should I have cleaned up my home and heart to get ready for a New Year? Are there traditions I’ve totally missed?

Sigh. I’d like to treat the beginning of the Church year even more seriously than I do our regular New Year. It’s too late to clean the house, office and heart. But, I could make a Resolution. But, what?

Maybe to LISTEN? To actually set aside time to hear You? Like BEFORE I chatter on in my blog?

It’s true, God! In writing my blog I have been just sitting down and talking to You. Now that I stop and think about it — that seems really dumb. Drat! I hate it when I actually catch myself doing something dumb.

I guess, I ought to rejoice? Duh! Yes, I ought to be thankful about that! Maybe even write them down in a sort of “Dumb Things I’ve Done” list? And them review them? Daily? Yikes!

I think I will go right now and “listen.” . . . I just read about Jonah in the Belly of the Whale calling out to You. Being in Dreadful Straights does that — it make us Cry Out to You!

I like the story about an atheist who was thrown off his horse and in a coma for weeks. When he woke us he was a Christian. They asked him, “When did this happen?” He replied, “Between leaving the horse and hitting the ground.” You surely hear a Cry of the Heart.

So, God, on to a New Year and more listening!

Tagged with: Advent is the beginning of the Church Year, gratitude, How ought we to live?, Listening to God, Silence and Stillness
Posted in a New Year, letting the Holy Spirit flow through us, listening, living by every word that comes from God, Rethinking

Out in the Rain — Looking through Layers

Posted on November 27, 2011 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

raindrops on the windshield in Hawaii Kai

Good Morning, God!

Last night I really wanted Korean food and Kit, my wonderful husband, agreed. So off we went to our local Yummy Korean BBQ. I love viewing the world through car windows, God. When I am the driver, that is a challenge that I have to work to resist. Ah, but, what fun to be the passenger!

The first thing I noticed was the beauty of the raindrops on our windshield. Then, just as I had my iPhone out and on camera, Kit ran the windshield wipers. Aargh! And, of course, God, then the rain let up.

But, it did resume and Kit resisted running the wipers and I happily took several photos. Although I never quite captured the delight of actually seeing the “invisible windshield” as Something — something beautiful.

That makes me think of all the layers we deal with — mostly without noticing. For example, Kit has an Editor Layer. And the other day — while I was reading him an article from the paper — he corrected my pronunciation of a phrase. (Which, I would tell You what it was, except I can’t spell it any better than I could pronounce it.) And, for some reason my “Impervious Manini Corrections” layer wasn’t in place. (“Manini” means tiny in Hawaiian.) Off I went in a huff! Mostly, God, I KNOW that his Editor Layer comes and goes and I don’t mind a small “upgrade” or two.

But, there You are, God. Or here we are . . . managing — or not managing — invisible layers. It’s challenging. But, I am feeling Very Thankful for having been able to SEE that they exist. Thanks, in part, to Kit being willing to venture out on a cool and rainy, windy night to eat Korean food! Please, help me remember, God, that we are all juggling invisible layers!

Tagged with: communication difficulties, invisible layers, male female worlds, my "impervious to corrections" layer
Posted in Communication, complexity, gender universes, layer upon layer, mental maps

Sunsets and the Light of the World

Posted on November 26, 2011 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

Sunset out our back window

Good Morning, God!

The Heavens do declare Your Glory! And looking into the beautiful sky brings me joy — as day by day Your Sun rises.

Of course, I understand that the earth is turning on its axis and that makes the sun rise in the east each morning.

But, there is an older primitive part of me that sees it rise every morning and rejoices. (As if the Sun might change its mind?)

We are only a month away from the Winter Solstice, God. That’s the point in the year when the lengthening night stops “eating up the day” and begins to shorten. I can certainly understand why people celebrated that Time — That Turning! How appropriate it is that we celebrate Jesus’ birth at the Winter Solstice Time.

As John says at the beginning of his gospel — His life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it

I love those words, God. I love the hope in them. The promise that is there for us. I just have to remember to remember. All day the sun crosses the sky . . . but, mostly, I only notice it at sunrise or sunset. The rest of the day I take the Light for granted.

How easy it is, God, to forget about You. In the retreat center at Snowmass there were bells to call us to prayer. While in Istanbul I heard the call to prayer broadcast out to the city. Reminders, to seek You, God.

Now, surely, I could get my smart phone to chime during the day? Or my computer programed to do that? Ah, but You are reminding me that You do send out “nudges,” which sad to say, I ignore. I have to WANT to focus on You — more than I want to focus on playing Angry Birds.

Please, God, help me seek You with my Whole Heart.

Tagged with: noticing the Light in sunsets and sunrises, the heavens declare the Glory of God, The Light shines in the darkness
Posted in Heavens declare the Glory of God, Light, rejoicing

On Loving God, My Brother, and Myself

Posted on November 25, 2011 by a moment with god — 1 Comment

Fall Trees on my brother's 20 acre wood

Good Morning, God!

My brother sent this glorious photo of one of his trees. And just that day I was pondering I John 4:20, which asks: How can you love God, whom you have not seen, when you do not love your brother, whom you have seen?

Fortunately, my brother is very easy to love, God. But, I take the meaning of the verse even if it is often easier to love out-of-sight people than up-close-and-daily people. Still, the command is clear. And the solution is in the previous verse: “We love, because He first loved us.”

Sigh. The difficulty isn’t only in the loving but in the definition of LOVE. Children seem to define being loved as “getting what I want.” That definition is hard to shake. Later on we gradually broaden it to politeness, small acts of kindness, and donations to food banks and Salvation Army kettles.

Loving others usually involves the Gift of Things — or in this season, cards. Both are indications of love, or at least of “being thought of.” At this point in life, “stuff” doesn’t hold that much appeal for me. But, I value time with loved ones more and more.

For me, God, since we are to love others AS WE LOVE OURSELVES, the question is, how are we to LOVE OURSELVES? I’ve been mulling this over. Loving myself is finally beginning to mean developing habits of personal care: watching my posture, choosing wisely what and when I eat, getting enough sleep, enough exercise . . . and so on.

With Your Help, God, I’m even creeping toward appreciating the gifts of “doing without.” Going off to the Snowmass Retreat Center was giving myself the “gift of silence” — the “gift of emptying my days and my heart.” Please, God, help me do that At Home.

Tagged with: re-defining love, The gifts of caring for myself, The gifts of Doing Without, the gifts of limits and self-management
Posted in LOVE, loving myself, Maintenance, people as gifts, Silence, solitude and silence

Flowers and Families and Friends

Posted on November 24, 2011 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

small oleander flowers on an ordinary hedge

Good Morning, God!

Happy Thanksgiving Day! My husband, Kit, just set off to run 10 miles in the Turkey Trot. Hey! Thanks, God, that I’m not running!

This morning I lay in bed letting all the things (and people) I am thankful for — run through my mind. Wow! So many wonderful people!

And, the VERY FIRST ONE in my life is my Mother! My first friend — source of half my genes — and most of my nurture. My mom was the one who introduced my Dad to Science Fiction. And when I was showing her my new iPhone the other day she said, “Why don’t I have one of those?” Maybe for her 97th birthday, next month? THANKS, Mom!

Families are our primary “school” in which we learn about life and — if we are lucky, God — we learn about You. My dad taught me that we aren’t on Planet Easy or even Planet Fair. We are here on Planet Earth to do the best we can.

Later on, it was friends who helped me understand just How Much You Long to Help us! And friends have grown into “families of friends” and continued the nurturing and nourishing that families provide. We are blessed that our children (and grandchildren) have also grown into friends — friends who encourage and inspire us. And sometimes, thankfully, correct us.

I am profoundly thankful, God. Psalm 100 says we Enter His Gates with Thanksgiving. And, I believe, that as we give thanks, we do, somehow, enter in through Your Gates. Ah, but the psalm goes on to say And into His Courts with Praise.

It is in opening my Heart — REJOICING and PRAISING You — that You become closer.

PRAISE YOU GOD — for flowers and families and friends — for stars and sunrises and sea creatures — and for the awesome gift of LIFE! Thank YOU!

Tagged with: And into God's Courts with Praise, Entering God's Gates with Thanksgiving, Praising God, The Gift of Life
Posted in Families, friends, Praise, thankfulness, Thanksgiving!

Draining the Inner Swamp — with Help

Posted on November 23, 2011 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

The Blue Bayou Restaurant in Disneyland

Good Morning, God!

Many years ago, when we went to Disneyland with our girls, we loved the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. And afterward we went to eat in the Blue Bayou Restaurant. No alligators there. No mosquitos. No Water Moccasins. It was a lovely, Disney-type Swamp.

Swamps came to mind, God, as I realized that Fears and Worries and General Irritations had turned me into the Beginnings of a Bog. Pretty swamp-like!

All these realizations flowed out of listening to a talk on How to Receive the Holy Spirit. It was given by a Scot, an Anglican Bishop in London. I must say

Bishop Sandy Millar, A Scot preaching in London

the British present the Holy Spirit in such a lovely matter-of-fact way. Bishop Sandy Millar quoted Jesus: “You fathers—if your children ask for a fish, do you give them a snake instead? Or if they ask for an egg, do you give them a scorpion? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.” [Luke 11:11-13]

Sandy Millar has seen what a Help the Holy Spirit is. He has seen the Holy Spirit heal. And he states that the Holy Spirit longs to give us the Gifts of the Spirit — for the blessing of those around us. It was close to the end of his talk when I realized — I hadn’t been asking the Holy Spirit to drain my swamp!

I had wandered off on my own again. Just as, when I was a toddler, I got down out of my Mother’s Lap to run around. Ah, God. Please help me remember to keep on asking!

Tagged with: asking for the Holy Spirit, Bishop Sandy Millar, Gifts of the Spirit, Holy Spirit, Holy Trinity Brompton
Posted in a prayer for healing, A Spiritual Spring Cleaning, Holy Spirit, lap time, responding to God's Spirit

Noticing the World — and Myself

Posted on November 22, 2011 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

A White and Blue Sky

Good Morning, God!

Sometimes the clouds and the things of the world are just so delightful that I have to STOP and take a photo. Thank You, God! These moments feel like gifts and I love them! And, maybe I’m wrong, God, but I feel as if You really like people noticing them.

Now that I am retired, I am beginning to notice myself a bit more. It is all too easy to notice my messy desk and miss the lack of habits and structure in my life that result in the mess. All of this isn’t Rocket Science, God! So, why it is taking me so long is a puzzle.

Hmm. Maybe I think HABITS are boring? But, habits free me to do what I want with the least amount of energy. Going to BJ Fogg’s website got me started thinking about this. Establishing a habit takes commitment and then a trigger or a trick or two to wedge it in the rest of the day. I’ve kind of wanted to floss. But, it wasn’t until the dentist pointed out that I could do it while I was reading that I was able to wedge it into my day. And then, after a month or so, it got so that an un-flossed mouth was distressing.

Another example is how I have wanted to pick up my office before I go to bed. But, upon a small moment of reflection I realized I often don’t go to bed until I am really tired. So, it seems OBVIOUS that I need to wedge the 10 minutes of picking up my office in earlier. And doing it before letting myself do something I like to do.

Today, God, please help me notice and analyze myself — noticing the commitment levels and triggers — or lack of them.